"The Way We Worked" Smithsonian Exhibit!

Smithsonian Exhibit Ribbon-cutting Celebration – The Way We Worked Exhibit Opening Event: Friday, January 4, 2012, after hours from 6:00 – 8:00 pmThe exhibit opens with the music of Michigan’s Troubadour, Neil Woodward, whose original tunes say much about work, specifically in Michigan. A tasting table full of locally made snacks from Great Lakes Custom Meats & More. We will cut the ribbon to the exhibit. Join the festivities on all three floors of Cromaine Library in the village.

Events

Photographic Display on Second Floor of Cromaine LibraryDecember 21 through February 9, 2013View a spectacular collection of images of our community by photographer D. James Galbraith, along with audio interviews from the 1970s.

Happy New Year! – Library Fun

Friday, January 4 at 10:00 am

Touch a garbage truck day! Talk with one of the area’s sanitation service drivers and learn what he does—and doesn’t have to do! For the whole family. Register - Village.

Happy New Year! – Library Fun School Age – Part 2

How We Work: Food

Thursday, January 3 at 2:00 pmBring your appetite and together we will make some fun and nutritious snacks.For grades K through 6. Register - Village.

How We Work: FitnessFriday, January 4 at 2:00 pmLet’s work off all the holiday goodies we have eaten and have some fun. For grades K through 6. Register - Village.

Florence B. Dearing Museum Open

Open Saturdays, January 5, 12, 19, 26 and February 2, 2013 from 10:00 am - 3:00 pmIn partnership with Cromaine Library's Smithsonian Exhibit "The Way We Worked," Hartland's Florence B. Dearing Museum opens to visitors on Saturdays January 4 through February 2. Stop by the museum to see the real life history of Hartland.

Unions: Aspects of ChangeWednesday, January 9 at 6:30 pmAuto industry commuters have been affected by recent changes in the automotive industry, and even more changes will likely affect the public work sector – teachers, government services, all in our community. Why did unions begin in the first place, and what do the current challenges mean to our community? Register - Crossroads.

Winter at Stone Coop FarmSaturday, January 12 from 1:00 to 2:00 pmBring your family and meet us at Stone Coop Farm in Brighton. Owner Joanee DeBruhl will lead us through the hoop houses, the root cellar, and we'll taste the surprising selection of winter veggies. Discover what really happens on a working farm in winter. The farm is located at 9615 Musch Road, off Winans Lake Road in Brighton. Register - Stone Coop Farm in Brighton.

The Way We WorkedPresented by John Beck, State Scholar for “The Way We Worked” exhibitWednesday, January 16 at 6:30 pmJohn Beck serves as Michigan’s exhibition scholar, the lead academic consultant for host communities and the Council. Beck is an associate professor in the School of Human Resources and Labor Relations at Michigan State University, and co-directs the “Our Daily Work, Our Daily Lives” program, which explores and presents the culture of workers in the workplace. Tonight he discusses the history of working in America. Register - Crossroads.

The Toughest Job You Will Ever Love: Lora Parisien Begin ~ A Peace Corps StoryMonday, January 21 at 6:30 pmSince the early 1960s, the Peace Corps has been a source of inspiration for many young Americans. Lora began her “dream” journey in 1989 and came away with much more than she expected. Two years of living in the Middle East gave her a new perspective on life that has affected her to this day. Lora spent ten years working for Peace Corps, which included two overseas tours. Lora is a Hartland resident and the author of “The Measure of a Dream,” a novel that details what it was like to be a young American woman living in an Islamic country. Books for sale and signing. Register - Crossroads.

History of Cromaine Crafts: Weaving for Pleasure or ProfitPresented by: Nadine CloutierWednesday, January 23 at 6:30 pmIn 1934, as part of the Hartland Area Project, weaving as a cottage industry began and farming men, women and children learned to weave for both pleasure and profit. During the 1930s and 1940s, Hartland was the third largest hand weaving industry in the country. The buildings are still here, and the weavers group continues today. Nadine Cloutier, local historian and Treasurer of the Black Sheep Weavers Fiber Guild will present a history of the weavers and talk about the original buildings, in historic downtown Hartland. Register - Crossroads.

Hartland Back-in-the-day DiscussionSaturday, January 26 at 10:00 amJoin us at Village Manor Retirement for a round table discussion of what is was like to grow up in Hartland, to work in Hartland and to ask what has kept these folks in Hartland for most of their lives. An event for the whole family and anyone who lives in Hartland today. Register - Held at Village Manor Retirement.

A Special Night at the Florence B. Dearing MuseumMonday, January 28 at 7:00 pmJoin us at the Florence B. Dearing Museum for a viewing of their special collection related to work in Hartland and listen to unique stories from several long-time Hartland residents. Register - Held at Florence B. Dearing Museum.

Working Words: Punching the Clock and Kicking out the Jams

M.L. Liebler, poet and author with special musical guest Robert JonesWednesday, January 30 at 6:30 pmThrough music and words, ML Liebler will discuss his novel and the gathering of “Working Words” from so many people around the country, with special musical guest Robert Jones. Register - Held at Hartland Music Hall.

Henry Ford: The Way He Worked UsThursday, January 31 at 6:30 pmSteve Stanford, Ford scholar, author and Hartland resident, shares a picture of Henry Ford as innovative businessman and key figure in Michigan's shift from agrarian to industrialized economy. Register - Crossroads.

My Journey as an Author, with Local Author Darci HannahMonday, February 4 at 6:30 pmDarci Hannah, author of "The Angel of Blythe Hall" and other books discusses her journey as a writer and writing as a career choice. Books available for sale and signing. Register - Crossroads.

Choosing Work You Love That Loves You Back!Wednesday, February 6 at 7:00 pmMeet with Michigan Works expert, Janelle Ross, to learn the assessment tools that are available to help you--at ANY stage of life--find the work you love that truly suits you! Register - Crossroads.

A Special Evening at the Crouse Family Private MuseumThursday, February 7 at 6:30 – 7:30 pm – The Crouse Family Museum will open for one night only, hosted by members of the family. Meet us at the museum for a personalized tour, see rare family photographs and learn more about our community's founders. Register – Held at Crouse Family Museum

Seniors of Hartland will work with our BiFolkal Kits to help them remember their “Working Days”. Available the entire month of January 2013 at Village Manor.

The only location to see this exhibit in Southeastern Michigan: Cromaine District Library - January 4 - February 9, 2013

The Way We Worked is a Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibit that explores the importance of work in American culture by tracing the many changes that affected the workforce and work environments over the past 150 years.

The Michigan Humanities Council is coordinating the exhibit's tour in Michigan, where it will reach six rural communities: Rogers City, Dowagiac, Hartland, Escasnaba, Clare, and Hart. Hosts were selected via a competitive application process.

About the Exhibit

The Way We Worked, adapted from an original exhibtion developed by the National Archives, draws from the Archives' rich photographic collections to tell the story of work in American culture. Why, where and how we work? What value does work have to individuals and communities? What does our work tell others about us?

Using large-format pictures, objects and interactive components, the exhibit will show how we identify with work, as individuals and as communities. Hosts will complement the exhibit with public programming focused on the local work history for each area. This might include development of an additional exhibit, discussion programs or community-based documentaries. The Council supports host communities with grants, program planning workshops and tour logistics.

John Beck will serve as Michigan's exhibition scholar, acting as the lead academic consultant for host communities and the Council. Beck is Associate Professor in the School of Human Resources and Labor Relations at Michigan State University, and co-directs the "Our Daily Work, Our Daily Lives" program, which explores and presents the culture of workers in the workplace.

Credits

The Way We Worked has been made possible in Michigan by the Michigan Humanities Council - with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities and CMU Public Broadcasting. The Way We Worked is part of Museum on Main Street, a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and state humanities councils across the country. Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the United States Congress.